Author's Note: I'm sorry. Late update today. I was attending a seminar, that's why. Also, once again, I have to say that it feels like that this story isn't really that "Pic of the Day"-centric, instead it can branch out to other ideas.

Chapter 10: Multi Menu Melee What?

A new update has just showed up. It's another group of three pictures. They appear to be the ones that can be seen on the giant screens whenever a tournament is taking place. The first photo shows the main screen, but with the "Games & More" part highlighted, and the matching picture below it features two Miis, Master Hand, a bomb, Mega Man's symbol and Sandbag. The second projected photo shows a sub-screen showing the panels "Solo", "Group" and "Custom", with the "Solo" one being highlighted. It also shows a treasure chest icon with the writing "Vault" below it and a gear icon with the writing "Options". This photo's matching picture shows a screenshot of Mario on a map and a picture of Miis, a bomb and Sandbag. The last photo shows yet another sub-screen showing the panels "Classic", "All-Star", "Training" and "Stadium". The "Classic" panel is the one to be highlighted, so the matching picture below the sub-screen shows the same screenshot of Mario on a map.

"Well… Looks like The Great Creator just decided to show off some of the events featured." Dedede said.

"So, apparently, the main events are inside the "Games & More". It confuses me." Zelda commented.

"I thought those belong inside the "Smash" section." Marth said.

"I wonder what's inside The Great Creator's mind when he came up with this…" Peach wondered.

"I understand that he wants us to know some of the events, as next week will be the last day before the tournament. However, I am not interested in the slightest regarding this update." Samus said.

"By the way, everyone. According to The Great Creator, apart from the ones displayed here and Smash Run, the other events that will be featured include Home-Run Contest, Multi-Man Smash challenges and Target Blast. Keep in mind that this list might not be final, okay?" Dedede clarified.

"Sigh… What a great update to ruin everyone's hype…" Dedede complained as he walks through the main corridor.

"It's okay, Dedede. At least it's not as bad as the Smash Run ones. I knew that you hate them as well… And, on another note, we've just gotten some new music to listen to!" Pit is walking beside him.

"But, this is the second-to-last week. What was he thinking?"

"Um… You'd better ask that question to him directly…"

"Shut up."

"By the way, how's the report?"

"What report?"

"Don't you remember? About the food shortage and Miis' rebellion?"

"Oh, yes! When I reported about that to The Great Creator… from what I remember, he didn't seem to be in a good mood…"

"Huh? Really? (This won't end well…)"

"When I tried to ask him about those issues… He didn't respond. It's pretty creepy."

"… (It's going from bad to worse…)"

"Also, at his hall, I could feel as if the darkness was about to consume me… So, of course, I ran away."

"Yikes!"

"Yeah… you know what would happen alright if I didn't flee… Even though the whole "darkness consuming fighters" thing never happens, thankfully."

"But it might happen sooner or later…"

When they're about to split up as they approach an intersection, Meta Knight jumps in from the right corridor.

"Whoa! You scared me for a second!" Dedede is surprised.

"Meta Knight! We haven't seen you for days! Where were you?" Pit is surprised as well.

"I'll talk, only if you two come with me tonight. After dinner." the round knight said to both fighters.

"Okay." Dedede said.

"Where exactly are you going to talk…?" Pit asked.

Realizing that there are other fighters walking by, Meta Knight whispers, "I won't tell you, but both of you must follow me after dinner."

That night…

Right after dinner, without any second thoughts, Dedede and Pit follow Meta Knight, who dashes through the many corridors in Smash Castle. Occasionally, Meta Knight waits so that the two fighters can catch up, especially Dedede who isn't a fast runner.

Once the three fighters arrive at a room located on the top floor of one of the castle's towers, Dedede and Pit are surprised to see Lucario there.

"No need to be surprised. This is supposed to be Lucario's room." Meta Knight explained.

"Looks like a typical attic." Dedede commented.

"Hush!" Pit hushes the penguin.

"Okay, okay, geez… By the way, I've never seen Lucario's room in this castle, so it's a surprise to me."

"Me too. Also, no wonder Lucario rarely has a dinner with us. He comes back to his room earlier."

"Well, then, you two have to listen to me. Lucario here, meanwhile, will be on the lookout just to keep our conversation secret." Meta Knight closes and locks the door.

"You sure you can trust Lucario for this…?" Dedede becomes worried.

"No need to worry. In fact, he was with me at one time when I was gone."

While Lucario is looking through the only window as part of his duty, Dedede and Pit sit on the floor. Then, Meta Knight begins talking.

"Before I explain, keep in mind that this is the most you can hear from me, because who knows someone might happen to hear our conversation. So, I won't raise my voice, and you two should do the same." Meta Knight said softly, almost to the point of whispering.

After the two fighters nodded in agreement, Meta Knight then continues.

"During those days when I was gone, I was actually patrolling the Mii Chamber. Yes, I abandoned most of my training because of this. The Great Creator is free to blame me, but I noticed something off about that particular chamber."

"What was it? Was it a sign of the rebellion?" Pit asked, also almost like whispering.

"Hm. Where did you get that idea?"

"Uh… I'm not really sure. Oh, wait! I believe I overheard it from someone."

"Then, who was it?"

"I think… it was Wario. When I first heard him, I thought he was speaking nonsense. After that… wait, there's someone else too. Must be Wolf."

"Hmph. Before you can start calling out names, let me continue. I have to admit, it did sound like the Miis were going to rebel against The Great Creator. I don't know when that rebellion actually began. But, the point is that those Miis began to hate their duties and no longer take their specialized training seriously. Also, one particular eerie thing about the rebellion is their purpose. After days of patrolling, I finally could hear what they're going for. The murdering of The Great Creator. I know it's not possible, but if they can provoke him enough, he would summon them into his hall, but consider this fact. The Great Creator, even with his ability to create and control this Smashverse's structure, is still an ordinary person who originated from a completely different universe. Miis are representations of those ordinary people from that same universe, remember. If many of them are summoned into the hall at the same time… The Great Creator will be weakened instead, making him an easy target for those now-mindless Miis. If he's killed, Smashverse will no longer progress. Its time will stop. Nothing will change there. Those who are trapped in a frozen Smashverse will stay frozen eternally. And not just this world. Other worlds greatly associated with The Great Creator will be perpetually frozen too."

"Eek… That's some scary stuff…" Dedede is shaking in fear.

"That sounds worse than I thought… But, Meta Knight, how do you know about The Great Creator so much? You're not his assistant." Pit said.

"I knew about him… because he told me. He summoned me into his hall after a certain patrol I had done. He told me about everything that can happen if such rebellion occurs. He also told me not to share this to anyone else except you and Dedede. By the way, Dedede, he also mentioned that he chose not to summon you to his hall, for obvious reasons."

"No wonder he didn't say anything about it to me… You, as well as Lucario, are the ones who were observing those Miis anyway."

"One more, Meta Knight. Why are you allowed to share The Great Creator's thoughts to me as well? I'm obviously not his assistant, and I only happened to hear about the rebellion all of a sudden back then." Pit asked another question.

"To him, you're assisting Dedede. You give the most support to him despite your opinions regarding Dedede himself."

"Oh."

"Now, back to the issue. The last update before the tournament starts is at the next week. I'm aware of the loss of excitement here, but, regarding this issue, only the four of us plus the two fighters Pit mentioned know or at least aware of the Miis' rebellion. We have to figure out what caused this. Normally, even Miis won't have a thought of physically attacking The Great Creator, in a literal way. We cannot let the whole tournament turn into a chaos."

"Maybe Wolf and Wario are the ones who caused it… I mean, come on, Wolf himself was threatened to be disqualified for this tournament yet is still seething with hatred despite the additional chance. Wolf might be the one who brainwashed those Miis…"

"Pit, unless The Great Creator gives another punishment to those two, do not accuse other fighters regardless of their status. Ever since I was summoned into his hall, he has started to resist the negative influence caused by the rebellion. Accusing other fighters just adds more fuel to the fire."

"Geez… So that's why he didn't respond to my report…" Dedede said.

"He didn't respond? I think he was currently at his worst state that time."

"Urk… The more I think about it, the scarier it is to imagine the darkness in The Great Creator's Hall…"

"It's better to imagine that than imagining your world being frozen for eternity…" Pit said to Dedede.

"Maybe I can stay in someone else's world…?"

"Hush!"

"Okay! Okay! I'm sorry! All this talk about murder, frozen world and other stuff just make me feel really uneasy! We can just joke a little…"

"However, Dedede, this is completely serious. By the way, until The Great Creator allows us to spread the bad news, we have to solve this problem ourselves. When doing that, however, we have to avoid provoking the Miis, so that The Great Creator will suffer less pain."

"Gotcha."

"Understood."

Meta Knight then walks up to Lucario to inform him that the three are going to leave the room.

"Lucario, we're all done here. I hope you can come up with a solution as well."

Lucario just nods. Then, the other three fighters leave the room.